Replication Data for: Revisiting hypocholesterolemia during prolonged sepsis: From targeted cholesterol repletion to unresolved adrenal and muscle dysfunction

Sepsis HDL- and LDL-hypocholesterolemia associate with adverse outcomes, but whether this necessitates supplementation or merely reflects disease severity remains unclear. We hypothesize that sustained hypocholesterolemia can contribute to ICU-acquired weakness and adrenal dysfunction, and that cholesterol supplementation can improve tissue cholesterol availability, muscle and adrenal integrity. In a catheterized mouse model of cecal-ligation-and-puncture-induced sepsis (5-days), septic mice received continuous infusion with an LDL- (mouse study 1; n = 51) (3.5 mg/d) or HDL-cholesterol (mouse study 2; n = 47) (5 mg/d) enriched cholesterol mixture, compared to placebo, and healthy reference mice. Plasma HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, CORT, TNF-α and total bile acids were measured, in addition to muscle force, myofiber cholesterol, ex-vivo adrenal ACTH response, adrenal cholesterol and structure. Gene expression markers of cholesterol synthesis were measured in liver, adrenal and muscle tissue.